Tire elements supply mechanism



April 8, 1947. c. s. M CHESNEY TIRE ELEMENT SUPPLY MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 3, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8, 1947. c. s. M CHESNEY TIRE ELEMENT SUPPLY MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 3, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v w. EE 5. [We CHES/VEK BY J ATTORNEY April 8, 1947. c. s. M CHESNEY 2,418,783

TIRE ELEMENT SUPPLY MECHANISM Original Filed oc't. s, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTdEij Cl/VLEIEJJIJCCHES/V x ATTORNEY April 8, 1947',

C. S. M CH ESNEY TIRE ELEMENT SUPPLYv MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 3. 1942' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR. 7 Cu. El? .5: M6. CHES/VEK saw/w Ah ATTOAI VEK ApriE 8, 1947. c. s. MOCHESNEY TIRE ELEMENT SUPPLY MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 5, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H N Q w E C gwg lllllllvllll 9 7. u 3% 1 Patented Apr. 8, 1947 TIRE ELEMENTS SUPPLY MECHANISM Cuyler S. McChesney, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Dunlop Tire and Rubber Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York (iriginal application (Pctober 3, 1942, Serial No.

460,705. Divided and this application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,160

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to a mechanism for supplying tire elements, namely the rubberized cord fabric, breaker and chafer strips and tread to a tire forming drum on which they are built into a tire carcass later to be shaped, molded and vulcanised.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 460,705, filed October 3, 1942, for Tire building machine, now matured into Patent No. 2,394,464, dated February 5, 1946.

In the tire building machine of my application Ser. No. 460,705, a forming, drum is rotated by a motor under the control of a timing mechanism to wrap the bias cut cord fabric first in one direction and then in another, certain of the fabrics being wrapped about tire beads andthen wrapping on the assembly the chafer strip, breaker strip andfinally the tread.

My present invention relates to a mechanism for bringing the cord fabric, chafer strip, breaker strip and tread to position to be wrapped onto the drum in timed sequence, but it is also applicable to other tire forming mechanism in which these various elements are to be Wrapped and assembled onto a forming drum.

The various features of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a supply mechanism embodying a preferred form of the invention and showing its relation to the tire forming drum;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on a somewhat larger scale of the delivery end of the supply mechanism and of the forming drum;

Fig. 5 is a detail of a fluid operated mechanism for rotating a turret of the drum;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the lower part of the turret;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a detail of av fabric Winding drum; taken on line 1--l of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of an end of a fabric supply roll;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing an arrangement of the electric circuits for controlling the various elements of my invention.

In my present invention a pair of tire supply means are mounted symmetricallyon arms .of a

' framework carried on the upper end of .a' vertical rotatable turret.

In the operation of the apparatus one of these supply mechanisms is in a position to deliver tire fabric to the forming drum while the other is in an opposite position, preferably diametrically opposite, to receive or be loaded with tire fabric.

The tire supply means comprises rolls on which the tire fabric is stored and from which it may be drawn onto the forming drum.

The invention is illustrated as applicable to supply mechanism for forming a 4-ply tire. The first two plies are offset sidewise and, therefore, the supply rolls may be shifted. The third and fourth plies are generally of narrower width and are carried on a separate roll, there being thus two sets of rolls for each supply unit.

The turret is preferably ofiset from the median. plane of the drum to provide room for tread, breaker and chafer strips supplied, which are carried on conveyer rollers and a feeding mechanism to advance them to the forming drum.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings a forming drum H is mounted on a rotating shaft 12- supported in and extending sidewise from a housing l3 which contains a driving motor and which is also provided with a timing mechanism It.

The housing I3 is mounted on a base which has an extension 15 extending below the forming drum II. The supply mechanism is mounted at one side of the forming drum so that the several plies may be drawn or supplied directly to the circumferential surface of the drum.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 to 4, the plies are carried on a horizontal table or turret l6 carried on the upper end of a vertical shaft or pillar I l rotatably supported on a base it. The table it comprises two triangular frames 19 and 20 mounted on the top of the pillar ll in symmetrical position and each comprising shorter straight beams 2! and 22 and, at an angle, longer beams 23 and 24, each having an extension 25 parallel to its beam 2! or 22.

Between the beams 2| and 22 and the parallel extensions 25 of the beams 23 and 24 there are mounted two sets of bias fabric supply mechanisms. The upper set comprises a pair of side plates 26 and 2? slidably secured between the extensions 25 of the beams 2| and 23 respectively, and between these side plates is mounted a supply r011 28 having wrapped thereon the bias cut fabric 29 and a liner of fabric to which the rubberized bias cut fabric will not adhere.

As the bias fabric is drawn from the supply roll 23 the liner will pass from the roll 28 and be wrapped onto a roll 30 supported on swing arms BI and pressed against the roll 28 by a spring mechanism 32, Fig. 4.

3 As the roller 30 is rotated the liner is wrapped about it while the bias cut fabric 23 passes down onto a feeding table 33 which is pivotally supported at its upper end between the plates 26 and 21 so that it may be swung from the operative position, shown at the right of Fig. 1, upwardly to the inoperative position, shown at the left thereof and shown in broken lines in Fig. 4.

The plates 25 and 21 and the rolls and feeding table may be shifted sidewise as a unit by means of pneumatic pistons and cylinders 34 secured to the beams 2! or 22 and extensions 25 by brackets and thus serve to shift the bias fabric supplied to the drum. Admission of air to and from the cylinder is controlled by an electromagnetic valve 35.

Tension springs 36 tensioned between pins 31 on opposite sides of the table 33 and pins on the supports 26 and 21 serve to hold the table in its upper or lower position by passing over a neutral or dead center in swinging from one position to the other.

On each table 33 there are mounted a pair of spaced guides 38 and 39 which may be positioned to guide the bias out fabric into proper position i for application to the forming drum H, as shown at the left of Fig. 2. Transverse slot-s 4i) and M are provided in the table through which securing studs of the guides pass to permit sidewise adjustment according to the width of the ply.

When a ply as, for example, the first and second plies, are to be applied to the forming drum H, the table 33 is lowered to the position shown at the right in Fig. 1, while it is at the left and immediately above the forming drum H, and the fabric as it is wrapped on the forming drum is drawn over the table and between the guides 38 and 39.

When the drum'has completed one full revolution the bias cut fabric is torn loose leaving two cords to overlap and thereupon to be spliced by the stitching rollers. The unused pant is then turned back onto the table 33.

The third and fourth plies are supplied from a lower feed supply similar to that of the upper, having a suppy roll 42 supported between two side plates 43 and 44 slidably mounted between the beams 2| or 22 and 23 or 24. A roller 45 swings on arms 46 and is pressed by a spring mechanism 47 against the roll 42. The supply being drawn from the supply roll 42 passes between the rolls 42 and 45 and the liner is rolled on the roll 45 while the ply fabric passes to a table 48 pivoted at its upper end between the supports 33 and 44. The plates 43 and 44, rolls 42 and 45 and table 48 are shifted by means of pneumatic pistons and cylinders 49, similar to the pistons and cylinders 34, and secured to the beams 2!, 22, 23 and 24 respectively.

The lower table is also held in upper or lower position, shown at the left and right of Fig. 1, by means of springs 59 confined between the pins on the support and pins 52 on the table to pass over a dead center in moving from upper to lower position, or vice versa. The lower table 48 is also provided with' guides. not shown, similar to those of the upper table 33. At the lower end of the table there is mounted a rotatable roll 53 about which the bias cut fabric may pass to the drum II from either table, when the drum is rotated in reverse, so that as the forming drum is rotated one revolution in reverse the bias cut fabric is applied with the cords inclined oppositely from those of the plies applied in forward rotation.

It will be understood that, the feed tables and supply rolls are shifted sidewise in one direction or the other after each ply is drawn therefrom. Inasmuch as the supply mechanisms on opposite sides of the table are identical only one of them is described and the same reference numerals are applied to each.

The rolls 28 and 42 contain enough ply fabric for a definite number of tires, for example, six tires. When the supply rolls are exhausted the turret i rotated 180 to bring a new supply of rolls into position to be applied to the drum I i and the exhausted rolls into position to be replenished. For this purpose the rotatable pillar I1 is rotated 180 about its axis by means of a rack 5d and a pinion 55 keyed on the shaft or pillar ll, Figs. 5 and 6. The rack 54 is connected at its opposite ends to and reciprocated by a pair of fluid actuated pistons 55 and 51 in respective cylinders 58 and 59. Fluid under pressure is alternately admitted to and exhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinders 58 and 59 through an electromagnetically controlled valve 60, shown diagrammatically in Figs. 5 and 6. With each alternate shifting of the pistons 56 and 51 and rack 54, the pinion 55 and shaft H, to which it is keyed, are rotated alternately 180 in opposite directions.

The shaft or pillar Il may be mounted on the base l8 by means of an upper frictionless thrust bearing 6! and a lower friction or ball-bearing 62 and is retained in position by means of a retaining ring 53 at its lower end. This enables the pillar to be freely rotated in opposite directions.

The chafer strips, breaker strip and tread are supplied to the'drum from a stationary table '64, Figs. 14=, extending at right angles to the axis of the forming drum and approximately aligned with the center circumferential line of the drum and, therefore, at one side of the pillar or post H.

The table 64 comprises a pair of parallel spaced horizontal lower rails 65 and 66 in which are journalled a series of parallelspaced rolls 6'! on which the breaker and chafer strips are placed to extend longitudinally toward the drum ii, the breaker strip extending along the center line of the row of rollers and there being a chafer strip on each side and extending to the drum in position to be wrapped onto the marginal edges of the assembled tire carcass immediately over the bead.

At the end of the table nearest the drum are three rollers 68 of larger diameter. The breaker and chafer strips extend over these rollers and thence onto a sliding table 59 spaced somewhat above the rollers. The table 69 comprises a pair of side arms lo and H between which is journalled a lead-in roller 12 and then a flat pan '13 which extends to within a short distance of the surface of the drum 1 I.

At the forward end of the table 69 there is mounted a small roller 14 slightly above the level of the pan [3 underneath which the front ends of the breaker and chafer strips pass. The pan I3 is provided with three parallel sets or pairs of guides '15 for the tread and the chafer The front end of the pan or table is turned down as at E5 to permit the breaker and chafer strips to pass readily to the drum. In applying the breaker and chafer strips the drum is rotated forwardly one revolution drawing the breaker and chafer strips into the proper position.

Afterwards they maybe stitched onto the plies and thereafter the tread is applied.

The tread is carried on a series of rollers 'i'i spaced above the breaker and chafer strips carrying rollers 57 and mounted on a pair "of rails E8 and we which are slidable length'wiserof the table. The side rails 78 and 79 are connected together by cross beams 85, three being shown byway of example in the accompanying drawings.

While the cord plies, breaker and chafer strips are being applied the assembly of side rails 18 and 79 and rollers TI on which the tread rests is in the position shown in Fig. '1. When the tread is to be applied to the forming drum II the side rails and rolls are moved lengthwise to a 'p'osi tion at which the lead-in roller is in position immediately adjacent the assembled tire. carcass on the drum.

As shown in Fig. 1 this forward movement is accomplished by means of a fluid operated cylinder 8i pivotally connected at 82 to a cross beam 83 of the table, and a piston having a stem connected at its forward or free end to a depending bracket 84 on the middle cross arm "8Q.

When fluid under pressure is admitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder 8| it serves to slide the series of rollers Ti toward the drum leaving the advanced end of the tread in positicn to be applied to the upper surface of the plies, breaker and chafer strips.

The tread is guided on the rollers "5'? between a pair of spaced guides 85 and 86 which are adjustably secured to cross bars 8? to permit these guides to be adjusted to the width of the tread. At the front or advancing end of the table 64 a pair of guide disks 88 and 89 are mounted on brackets 99 and Si or rods extending through uprights in the table so that the spacing or distance apart of these disks may be adjusted to by its motor at a relatively low speed when the several plies, breaker and chafer strips and the tread are being applied or wrapped on the drum, but may be driven at high speed between these periods of application for the purpose of stitching the plies and tread.

To preventthe motor from running at high speed until the tread is entirely removed from the tread pan 2. safety switch 93, Figs. 2 and 3, which may be a micro-switch, is provided with an actuating lever in the path of the tread to be depressed by the tread. v

When the actuating lever is depressed the high speed circuit of the motor is opened preventing its operation at high speed.

When the first ply is to be applied to the drum the drum is brought to a period of rest, the supply roll 28 and its table 33- are shifted to an initial position so that the center line of the ply is slightly oiiset from the center or mid plane of the drum. Ply stock is now drawn from the upper roll 28' and guided onto the drum by hand and the lead-in corner of the bias out ply is tacked to one of the shoulders of the drum which has been coated with cement. The'reupon the drum is rotated by means of its motor at low speed for one complete revolution, whereupon it is stopped. The ply stock is then torn off and laid back onto the table 33 and the ends of the first ply are then spliced on the drum.

To apply the second ply the drum is rotated at low speed in reverse. Preferably it is rotated a part of a turn as, for example, a quarter revolution, and stopped. The supply roll 28 and table 33 are then shifted until the center line of the ply is displaced on the opposite side of the median plane of the drum. Thereupon the motor rotates in reverse drawing the ply under the guide roller 53, Fig. 4, until a complete ply has been drawn onto the drum. These plies may then be stitched by stitching disks in the ordinary Way. The ends of the plies projectin beyond the ends'of the drum are turned down onto the face of the drum by any suitable means or by hand. Beads are then applied.

Thereupon the supply table is shifted back to its initial position. The upper supply table 33 is then tilted upwardly and the ply stock is drawn from the lower supply roll 5.2 over the lower table or pan 48 and tacked to the surface of the second ply. lhe drum is then rotated at low speed for a complete revolution drawing a ply onto the drum. The lower supply roll and pan are then shifted in an opposite direction, the fabric drawn under the guide roll 53 and the drum rotated in reverse for a complete revolution drawin the fourth ply onto the drum. After each ply is drawn the stock is severed and returned to the pan or table 43. The drum is then in position for the application of the breaker and chafer supplying strips.

To apply the breaker and chafer strips the table 69 is pulled forward and the front ends of the strips are attached to the plies on the drum and the drum given one revolution, thereby drawing a length of the strips between their respective guides onto the drum. The'reupon the strips are severed and the table E9 moved back to its original position.

To apply the tread strips pressure fluid is applied through the control valve 92 to the cylinder ill moving the platform ll forward to a position where the front end of the tread may be attached to the plies on the drum and the tread drawn onto the drum.

While plies are drawn from the rolls adjacent the drum the rolls on the opposite side of the turret maybe replenished or replaced. When the stock is exhausted from the end of the turret over the tire building drum it is only necessary to revolve the turret 180 swinging the exhausted end to a position for replenishment and bringing the reloaded end into position to supply the drum. This rotation of the turret is accomplished by pressing a push button 95 in an electric circuit 96', Fig. 9, leading from a main 9'! to a pair of branch circuits 98 and Q9 which comprise parallel solenoids Ice and NH, Figs. 5 and 9; of the 4-way valve 60;, which in turn admits air to cylinder 58 or 59, depending upon which way the turret is to be turned. The circuit 96 also comprises micro switches m2 and icerespectively on the arms 2'! of the turret, Fig. 1.

These switches Hi2 and 33 are arranged in series and are closed when the tables 88 are lifted so that they clear the tire building mechanism and; tread. supply when the turret-is rotated. When the tables are in position where they would not clear the tire buildin mechanism and tread supply a corresponding switch will be opened and the turret cannot be rotated.-

In the respective branch circuits 98 and 99 are included switches I94 and I95 in series with the solenoids I99 and I 9I respectively, one of which will be opened when the other is closed.

The switches I94 and I95 may be mounted on the frame 94, Fig. 3, in position to be opened and closed by cams I96 and I9! on the rotatable pillar II, these cams being arranged to open and close the switches alternatively. Accordingly the opening and closing of these switches determines the solenoid I99 or I9I to be energized when the push button 95 is closed. When the turret is to be turned, therefore, the tables 33 and 48 are moved out of position in such manner as to close the switches I92 and I93 and the push button switch 95 is closed, whereupon the current will flow through the branch circuit 98 or 99 depending upon which of the circuits I94 or I95 is closed, and thence to a return main I98.

To maintain a circuit through the branches 98 and 99 upon the release of the push button switch and while the turret is turning a shunt circuit I99 around the push button 95 is closed through a switch I E9, the switch I I9 being closed by means of a solenoid Ill. The circuits 98 and 99 will, therefore, remain closed until the switch I94 or I95 is opened by its cam. This insures that the turret will complete its revolution of 180 once the push button switch is closed.

The off-setting of the arms 2 I25 of the turret so that the end to be loaded is at one side of the chafer strip, breaker strip and tread supply provides a clear space above the loading end of the chafer supply so that they may be supplied simultaneously without interference.

The liner roll-up rolls 39 may also be provided with a free wheeling arrangement whereby when the ply fabric is drawn from the roll 28 the roll 39 rotates freely to wrap up the liner fabric, but when rotating the roll 28 to Wrap a supply of ply fabric thereon a clutch engages the roll with a brake device which puts the liner fabric under tension. Such a clutch may be of any suitable type as, for example, one having rollers or balls which clutch the clutch elements when rotated in one direction but release them when rotated in the opposite direction.

In the embodiments of this invention as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the liner roll 30 is in the form of a hollow cylinder supported on its opposite ends on a stationary shaft II3 which is secured to one of the swinging supporting arms 3i, shown in Fig. 8, in such a manner as to prevent rotation with the roll 39 but to permit a limited longitudinal movement.

The cylindrical shell of the roll 39 is supported on the shaft by means of ball bearings II 4, the outer raceway of which is secured to the roll 39. At the ehd of the roll, shown in Fig. 8, the inner raceway of the bearing is mounted on a sleeve H5 carried within a bearing on the arm 3| and mounted on the shaft I I3 by key, or otherwise, to permit it to move longitudinally but without rotational movement.

The sleeve II5 extends into the roll 39 and abuts at its inner end the outer hub I16 of a clutch. The opposite face of the clutch element H6 is closed by an end plate II'I forming a support for a thrust bearing IIIS between the end plate I" and a clutch member H9. This clutch member has an extension I29 within the outer clutch member IIS and at its opposite end has a flange I2I which has an asbestos or other friction face I22.

The flange I2I and friction surface are in contact with a partition plate I23 rigidly or integrally secured to the cylindrical shell 39. The flange I2I and friction surface I22 are pressed against the partition plate I 23 by means of a spring I24 confined between the end of the sleeve H5 and lock nuts I25 on a threaded end of the shaft II3. By adjusting the lock nuts the pressure of the friction surface on the partition I23 may be adjusted.

When the two clutch elements H6 and II 9 are unclutched the friction face I22 rotates freely with partition I23 and shell 39. This is the case when the liner strip is being wound on the roll inasmuch as a free rolling with little resistance is desired when the bias cut fabric is being drawn from the supply roll.

When the liner is drawn from the liner roll, however, in order to be wrapped onto a supply roll being filled, it is desired to draw the liner roll with a controlled tautness. For this purpose the two clutch elements are clutched or engaged by means of rollers I29, Fig. 7, contained in approximately tangential recesses I21 in the outer clutch H6 in such manner as to wedge the rollers I26 when the clutch element H6 is rotated in one direction relative to the clutch element I29 and to release the clutch elements when they are rotated in opposite directions. The rollers I26 are urged toward engaging or clutching position by means of spring pressed plungers I28.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for supplyin tire elements to a forming drum which comprises means for supplying tire fabric to said drum, said means comprising a supply roll to hold a supply of tire fabric and liner fabric, a liner roll to receive liner fabric from said supply roll, a friction surface having a pressure contact with said liner roll to rotate therewith and a clutch to hold said friction surface stationary when said liner rotates in a direction to draw liner fabric therefrom and to release said friction surface when rotating in the opposite direction.

2. Apparatus for supplying tire elements to a forming drum which comprises means for supplying tire fabric to said drum, said means comprising a supply roll to hold a supply of tire fabric and liner fabric, a liner roll to receive liner fabric from said supply roll, a friction surface having a pressure contact with said liner roll to rotate therewith, a clutch to hold said friction surface stationary when said liner rotates in a direction to draw liner fabric therefrom and to release said friction surface when rotating in the opposite direction, said clutch comprising a clutch plate having recesses substantially tangential to and intersecting its periphery and spring pressed rollers in said recesses.

3. Apparatus for supplying tire elements to a rotatable tire forming drum which comprises a supply turret having a pair of arms extending diametrically from a pivotal axis, fabric supply rolls on said arm to swing alternately to position to supply fabric to said drum and to position to be replenished, means to rotate said arms on said axis, an electric circuit having means to control said rotating means, a push button to close said circuit, a pair of branch circuits and switches in parallel and cams rotating with said supply turret to hold one of said branch switches open rotating forming drum which comprises a rotatable turret, a pair of supply mechanisms having delivery arms tiltable downwardly to delivery position relative to said drum and upwardly out of contact with said drum, means for rotating said turret, an electric circuit having means to control the rotation of said circuit, switches on said supply mechanism in series in said circuit to open when said arms are lowered and to close when said arms are raised, a starting switch in series With said arm control switches, said circuit having a pair of branches and switches in said branches and means to open the switch of one branch and close the switch of the other when said turret is in one half of its rotation and to reverse the opening and closing of said switches when said turret is in the other half of its rotation.

5. Supply mechanism for supplying tire fabric to a forming drum which comprises a support comprising a pair of spaced parallel beams, a pair of plates one adjacent each of said beams, a supply roll and a feed table mounted on and between said plates, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted on one of said beams and a piston movable in said cylinder and. connected to one of said plates whereby said plates and said supply roll and feed table mounted on said plates may be shifted a limited distance relative to said beams and in a direction axially of said roll.

6. A supply mechanism for tire building apparatus which comprises a rotatable turret, tire fabric supply means on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said turret, each tire supply means comprising a fabric supply roll and a guiding plate for fabric pivoted to said turret to tilt to an upper and a lower position, power driven means to rotate said turret to bring one fabric supply mechanism into position to feed tire fabric and the other of said tire fabric supply means to position to receive a supply of tire fabric, a power supply to said rotating means and means on each of said guides to interrupt said power supply when said guide plate is in a lower position.

CUYLER S. McCHESNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,313,035 Breth Mar. 9, 1943 1,915,061 Leguillon June 20, 1933 1,966,087 Bostwick July 10, 1934 2,039,532 Heston May 5, 1936 2,242,810 Bostwick May 20, 1941 2,340,267 Haase Jan. 25, 1944 2,343,954 Carlin Mar. 14, 1944 2,346,439 Leguillon Apr. 11, 1944 2,045,534 Stevens June 23, 1936 2,045,554 Heid June 23, 1936 1,255,320 G. F. Knight et a1. Feb. 5, 1918 2,365,341 U. C. Haren et al. Dec. 19, 1944 

